RDC welcomes back Negros Oriental

The Regional Development Council (RDC) 7 has assured the province of Negros Oriental that their priority projects will be included in the development plan of the council.

During the third council meeting in Siquijor yesterday, RDC 7 Chairman Kenneth Cobonpue welcomed the officials led by Gov. Roel Degamo and representatives of the private sector from Negros Oriental.

It was the first time Negros Oriental attended again the RDC 7 full council meeting after the Negros Island Region (NIR) was dissolved.

“This is a significant first meeting because Negros Oriental is back to us. Rest assured that we will give importance to the development of the province. I’m also asking the regional directors to give importance to Negros Oriental and prepare more projects for the province,” Cobonpue said.

President Rodrigo Duterte issued Executive Order 38 last month that abolished the NIR and directed the return of Negros Ori- ental and Negros Occidental to Region 7 and Region 6, respectively.

Degamo said he is happy that they’re back with Central Visayas because they can develop their full potential in the region.

“Today marks a new era for Oriental to be part of RDC 7. I am happy to be back with Region 7. I will not be a headache,” he said.

Degamo said that even when the NIR was created by the previous administration, he already had apprehensions that it will not prosper because its creation was “highly irregular and illegal.”

“I’d rather stay in Central Visayas because its economy is strong,” he said.

Also yesterday, National Economic Development Authority 7 Director and vice chairman of RDC 7 Efren Carreon moved that the development plan of Negros Oriental be turned over to Central Visayas. Meetings and coordination have done by the RDC 7 Secretariat for the reintegration of the province. /